17 research outputs found
Exacerbations and associated healthcare cost in patients with COPD in general practice
Background. Acute exacerbations are a characteristic clinical expression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence rate, management, and healthcare costs of exacerbations in patients with COPD in Dutch general practice. Methods. Baseline data set from the COPD on Primary Care Treatment (COOPT) trial was used. Details on the occurrence and management of exacerbations were collected by systematic medical record review for the 2-year period preceding trial inclusion. Results. The mean age of the 286 study subjects involved was 59.2 (SD 9.6) years, postbronchodilator FEV1 67.1% (SD 16.2) of predicted. Following ERS criteria, subjects suffered from: no (26%); mild (19%); moderate (40%); or severe (15%) airflow obstruction. The overall mean and median annual exacerbation rates were 0.88 (SD 0.79) and 0.5 (IQR 1.0), respectively. Exacerbation rate was not related to severity of airflow obstruction (p=0.628). Mean annual exacerbation costs per subject were € 40, € 53, € 61 and € 92 for the respective severity subgroups (p=0.012). The increase of costs in the more severe subgroups was mainly attributable to more physician consultations, diagnostic procedures, and prescription of reliever medication (e.g., bronchodilators, cough preparations). Conclusions. Occurrence of exacerbations did not depend on the severity of airflow obstruction, whereas the healthcare cost associated with exacerbations increased along with the severity of the disease
Objectively measured physical activity in european adults: cross-sectional findings from the Food4Me study
Introduction
Physical inactivity has been estimated to be responsible for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide
[1]. Moreover, among European men and women, approximately 7.3% of all deaths in
2008 might be attributable to inactivity compared with 3.7% to obesity [2] and there is strong
evidence to suggest that even small increases in physical activity (PA) would lower the risk for
many non-communicable diseases [1–3]. Yet, levels of PA across populations remain low [4].
To tackle this public health issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
American College of Sports Medicine produced standardized PA guidelines 20 years ago [5].
Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union, and most countries
around the world, have included PA guidelines in their health policies. Guidelines for Americans
and Europeans have been updated to include recommendations for adolescents and for
older adults [6–9]. For adults aged 18–64 years old, the WHO recommends a minimum of 150
min of moderate intensity PA per week, 75 min of vigorous intensity PA or an equivalent
amount of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) [9].
In 2008, 34.8% of adults 15 years or older were insufficiently active in Europe [4]. Regular
surveillance is needed to update these prevalence estimates and to evaluate the effectiveness of
PA policies and promotion programs in European countries. In this context, the objective
assessment of PA is a key issue. Prevalence of physical inactivity has been mainly derived from
self-reported measures such as the Baecke questionnaire [10] or the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [11]. These questionnaires have been, and still are, widely used
due to their simple administration and low cost [12]. However, PA is frequently misreported,
which leads to considerable measurement error [13–15]. Accelerometers offer a potential solution
because they measure PA objectively. Given that they are small and easy to wear, store
data up to several weeks and are acceptable in terms of reliability, these devices are now used
increasingly in large studies to assess PA in children, adolescents and adults [16]. Although
some European countries have reported adherence to PA guidelines using accelerometers in
large cohorts [17–19], comparisons between European countries measured according to the
same standardized protocols and concurrently are lacking.
Between 2012 and 2014, PA was assessed objectively by accelerometry in the participants of
the Food4Me Proof-of-Principle (PoP) study. The Food4Me Study was a web-based randomized
controlled trial on personalized nutrition, across seven European countries: Germany,
Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The aim of the current
paper is to describe and compare PA in adults from these countries, and evaluate adherence
to PA guidelines, using baseline data from the Food4Me PoP study
Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Genetic Background Roles within a Web-Based Nutritional Intervention: The Food4Me Study
Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) adherence has been proven to produce numerous health
benefits. In addition, nutrigenetic studies have explained some individual variations in the response to
specific dietary patterns. The present research aimed to explore associations and potential interactions
between MedDiet adherence and genetic background throughout the Food4Me web-based nutritional
intervention. Dietary, anthropometrical and biochemical data from volunteers of the Food4Me study were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Several genetic variants related to metabolic risk features
were also analysed. A Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was derived from risk alleles and a Mediterranean
Diet Score (MDS), based on validated food intake data, was estimated. At baseline, there were no
interactions between GRS and MDS categories for metabolic traits. Linear mixed model repeated
measures analyses showed a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol in participants with a
low GRS after a 6-month period, compared to those with a high GRS. Meanwhile, a high baseline
MDS was associated with greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and
glucose. There also was a significant interaction between GRS and the MedDiet after the follow-up
period. Among subjects with a high GRS, those with a high MDS evidenced a highly significant
reduction in total carotenoids, while among those with a low GRS, there was no difference associated
with MDS levels. These results suggest that a higher MedDiet adherence induces beneficial effects on
metabolic outcomes, which can be affected by the genetic background in some specific markers
Exacerbations and associated healthcare cost in patients with COPD in general practice.
Contains fulltext :
49882.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations are a characteristic clinical expression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence rate, management, and healthcare costs of exacerbations in patients with COPD in Dutch general practice. METHODS: Baseline data set from the COPD on Primary Care Treatment (COOPT) trial was used. Details on the occurrence and management of exacerbations were collected by systematic medical record review for the 2-year period preceding trial inclusion. RESULTS: The mean age of the 286 study subjects involved was 59.2 (SD 9.6) years, postbronchodilator FEV1 67.1% (SD 16.2) of predicted. Following ERS criteria, subjects suffered from: no (26%); mild (19%); moderate (40%); or severe (15%) airflow obstruction. The overall mean and median annual exacerbation rates were 0.88 (SD 0.79) and 0.5 (IQR 1.0), respectively. Exacerbation rate was not related to severity of airflow obstruction (p=0.628). Mean annual exacerbation costs per subject were 40 Euro, 53 Euro, 61 Euro and 92 Euro for the respective severity subgroups (p=0.012). The increase of costs in the more severe subgroups was mainly attributable to more physician consultations, diagnostic procedures, and prescription of reliever medication (e.g., bronchodilators, cough preparations). CONCLUSIONS: Occurrence of exacerbations did not depend on the severity of airflow obstruction, whereas the healthcare cost associated with exacerbations increased along with the severity of the disease
Guideline on anterior cruciate ligament injury A multidisciplinary review by the Dutch Orthopaedic Association
The Dutch Orthopaedic Association has a long tradition of development of practical clinical guidelines. Here we present the recommendations from the multidisciplinary clinical guideline working group for anterior cruciate ligament injury. The following 8 clinical questions were formulated by a steering group of the Dutch Orthopaedic Association. center dot What is the role of physical examination and additional diagnostic tools? center dot Which patient-related outcome measures should be used? center dot What are the relevant parameters that influence the indication for an ACL reconstruction? center dot Which findings or complaints are predictive of a bad result of an ACL injury treatment? center dot What is the optimal timing for surgery for an ACL injury? center dot What is the outcome of different conservative treatment modalities? center dot Which kind of graft gives the best result in an ACL reconstruction? center dot What is the optimal postoperative treatment concerning rehabilitation, resumption of sports, and physiotherapy? These 8 questions were answered and recommendations were made, using the "Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation" instrument. This instrument seeks to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical practical guidelines by establishing a shared framework to develop, report, and assess. The steering group has also developed 7 internal indicators to aid in measuring and enhancing the quality of the treatment of patients with an ACL injury, for use in a hospital or practice
Objectively measured physical activity in european adults: cross-sectional findings from the Food4Me study
Introduction
Physical inactivity has been estimated to be responsible for more than 5.3 million deaths worldwide
[1]. Moreover, among European men and women, approximately 7.3% of all deaths in
2008 might be attributable to inactivity compared with 3.7% to obesity [2] and there is strong
evidence to suggest that even small increases in physical activity (PA) would lower the risk for
many non-communicable diseases [1–3]. Yet, levels of PA across populations remain low [4].
To tackle this public health issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
American College of Sports Medicine produced standardized PA guidelines 20 years ago [5].
Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union, and most countries
around the world, have included PA guidelines in their health policies. Guidelines for Americans
and Europeans have been updated to include recommendations for adolescents and for
older adults [6–9]. For adults aged 18–64 years old, the WHO recommends a minimum of 150
min of moderate intensity PA per week, 75 min of vigorous intensity PA or an equivalent
amount of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) [9].
In 2008, 34.8% of adults 15 years or older were insufficiently active in Europe [4]. Regular
surveillance is needed to update these prevalence estimates and to evaluate the effectiveness of
PA policies and promotion programs in European countries. In this context, the objective
assessment of PA is a key issue. Prevalence of physical inactivity has been mainly derived from
self-reported measures such as the Baecke questionnaire [10] or the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [11]. These questionnaires have been, and still are, widely used
due to their simple administration and low cost [12]. However, PA is frequently misreported,
which leads to considerable measurement error [13–15]. Accelerometers offer a potential solution
because they measure PA objectively. Given that they are small and easy to wear, store
data up to several weeks and are acceptable in terms of reliability, these devices are now used
increasingly in large studies to assess PA in children, adolescents and adults [16]. Although
some European countries have reported adherence to PA guidelines using accelerometers in
large cohorts [17–19], comparisons between European countries measured according to the
same standardized protocols and concurrently are lacking.
Between 2012 and 2014, PA was assessed objectively by accelerometry in the participants of
the Food4Me Proof-of-Principle (PoP) study. The Food4Me Study was a web-based randomized
controlled trial on personalized nutrition, across seven European countries: Germany,
Greece, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. The aim of the current
paper is to describe and compare PA in adults from these countries, and evaluate adherence
to PA guidelines, using baseline data from the Food4Me PoP study